In the dynamic and global textile fiber industry with its various manufacturing processes and end-uses, news and information is breaking on a daily basis. International Fiber Journal is tracking stories relevant to our industry from manmade to natural to bio-based fibers, innovations in nonwoven, woven, braided and technical textiles, technologies for additives, bonding, coatings and polymers, and applications from apparel to hygiene to transportation, and more. Here we will post news stories relevant to textile fibers and their downstream applications on an ongoing basis. Please check back for regular updates. If you have news that you feel should be added to this summary report, please email it to Ken Norberg at [email protected].
Most recent update: September 23, 2026
Bill Calls On EPA To Strategize For Textile Circularity
Founder and chair of the Congressional Slow Fashion Caucus, Chellie Pingree has introduced the Textile Waste Reduction Act (TWRA), legislation aimed at establishing a coordinated federal framework to reduce textile waste, improve data collection and develop a national strategy to advance circularity in the textile industry.
The bill is based on recommendations made in the first-ever Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on fast fashion pollution—originally requested by Pingree and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) in 2023.
“The GAO report confirmed what we’ve known for years: that textile waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the US; that it’s being driven largely by fast fashion; and that federal action is necessary to confront this crisis in a real, impactful way,” Congresswoman Pingree explained.
“This bill would help lay the foundation for that effort by creating a coordinated federal strategy to reduce textile waste and build a more circular textile economy.”
pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5305
Remembering Dr. Andre West
The Wilson College of Textiles is mourning the loss of professor and former director of Zeis Textiles Extension, Andre West. A beloved colleague, mentor and friend whose creativity, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit left an enduring mark on the college and the people who knew him.
Throughout his career, West had a gift for seeing possibility — in ideas and, most importantly in people. He was known for bringing ideas to life and for creating opportunities for students and colleagues to step forward, take risks and receive recognition for their own work.
West earned his B.S. in textile design from the University of Huddersfield in England. In 2009, he earned his Master of Fine Arts in visual arts from Miami International University of Art and Design followed by his Doctorate in Education in 2012.
For over 40 years, West worked in the textiles industry through fashion trend forecasting, fashion and textile design, manufacturing and retailing. He began his career in London, England as a trend forecaster and designer before moving to Florida. There, he had various professional experiences with places like the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Fashion Week and the Knit Design Group, Inc.
His career eventually brought him to NC State in 2013 as an assistant professor in the Department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, advancing to associate professor in 2019 and then full professor in 2024. In 2019, he was named director of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE).
Across those roles, West built a legacy that extended far beyond his own accomplishments. West built a legacy of service not only across the Wilson College and NC State communities, but also worldwide. He will be remembered by faculty and students as a champion for others’ success.
Karl Mayer Introduces Extra-Wide Tricot Machine for Higher Productivity
German textile machinery manufacturer Karl Mayer recently launched the HKS 3-M EL, 330″, an extra-wide 3-bar tricot machine designed for high productivity in warp knitting. The newcomer offers a 330″ working width that can be increased by a further 10″ to 340″, while maintaining production speeds of up to 2,800 min. According to the company, this makes the HKS 3-M EL in 340″ the most productive machine in this configuration currently available on the market.
The machine is aimed at a broad range of applications in fashion and apparel, home textiles and technical textiles, with a particular focus on sports-, active- and athleisure-wear. It is suitable for efficient production of soft, warming outdoor textiles and fluffy, raised or brushed fleece qualities, for example for softshell uses. In addition, the HKS 3-M EL opens up options for using sustainable yarns. Flexible patterning options and modern technologies are intended to support faster article development and quicker reactions to market trends.
The HKS 3-M EL is available in gauges E 28 and E 32 and can be configured with 4 different take-up systems. An EL pattern drive for the guide bar control enables easy pattern changes and high precision in fabric construction, while the Multi-Speed feature provides additional flexibility in operation. The extra-wide tricot machine also incorporates energy-efficient technologies, automation solutions and a design aimed at low maintenance requirements.
Archroma and Lameirinho Partner in Pioneering Deployment of InOneGO Single-Step Dyeing
Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, and Lameirinho, a leading home textiles manufacturer based in Portugal, are collaborating to bring InOneGO by Archroma, a new single-step dyeing process, into commercial production. Lameirinho’s first InOneGo bedlinens collection is now available worldwide.
InOneGO by Archroma is an innovative continuous dyeing process that combines coloration, fixation and softening into a single pad-dry application step.
Developed for woven cellulosic textiles, including denim and fashion wear, as well as home textiles, InOneGO is compatible with Archroma’s advanced sulfur dyestuffs: the DIRESUL® RDT range of pre-reduced low-sulfur liquid dyes, and the EarthColors® and FiberColors® biomass-based sulfur dyes. This gives mills and brands a lower-impact way to produce wash-down effects, without compromising on fastness or shade range across earthy tones, deep blues and dark blacks.
Impact assessments using Archroma’s ONE WAY Impact Calculator show substantial environmental benefits when using InOneGO by Archroma with DIRESUL® RDT for woven fabrics, including denim and jacquard. The tests included the addition of easy wash-down effect finishing, benchmarked against conventional cold pad-batch reactive dyeing with pigment top-dye finish. Key results include up to:
- 81% less process time
- 97% less water consumption
- 65% less energy consumption
- 75% less CO2 emissions
The InOneGO by Archroma process runs on Stenter and Thermosol lines, and performance finishes can be applied in a second step.
Tiffany DeBruhl Named Account Manager at Empire State Fibers & Yarns
Empire State Fibers & Yarns (ESF&Y) has named Tiffany DeBruhl account manager, bringing experience in sales and supply chain operations to the textile fiber and yarn supplier.
In her new role, DeBruhl will work with ESF&Y customers, helping manufacturers identify cost-effective fiber and yarn solutions while providing responsive service and support.
DeBruhl brings a background in sales and supply chain operations and a relationship-driven approach to customer service. Her experience aligns with ESF&Y’s focus on dependable service, cost-efficient solutions and clear communication.
Established in 1999, Empire State Fibers & Yarns supplies high-tenacity nylon, polyester and aramid yarns to industrial markets. Its product offerings also include treated nylon and polyester tire cord fabric, cabled polyester and nylon yarns, BCF yarns, spun yarns, textured yarns, multiplex polyester yarn and industrial fabrics.
Textiles Recycling Expo USA Opens Call for Speakers for 2027 Event
Following the success of its inaugural 2026 event, Textiles Recycling Expo USA is inviting industry experts, innovators, researchers and thought leaders to submit speaker proposals for its 2027 conference, taking place April 7–8 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C.
The call for speakers is now open as organizers begin building the program for the second edition of Textiles Recycling Expo USA, North America’s dedicated exhibition and conference focused on textile recycling and circularity.
The 2027 conference is seeking speakers with expertise across areas including:
- EPR & the New Compliance Landscape
- Sorting Technology: The Bottleneck and the Fix
- Fiber-to-Fiber Recycling & Recycled Fiber End Markets
- Collection Infrastructure & Reverse Logistics
- Reuse, Resale & Repair as the First Circular Loop
- Traceability, Brand Accountability & Circular Business Models – NEW for 2027
- Global Trade Flows: Burdens, Opportunities & Accountability in the Global South – NEW for 2027
Textiles Recycling Expo USA provides speakers with the opportunity to share their expertise with an international audience of brands, recyclers, manufacturers, technology providers, policymakers, researchers and industry professionals.
events.amiplastics.com/textiles-recycling-expo-usa
Barmag to Showcase Next-Generation Textile Technologies at ITMA Asia
Barmag will present an innovation portfolio at ITMA Asia 2026 that goes far beyond incremental machine upgrades. From Nov. 20-24, 2026 Barmag experts will present next-generation spinning concepts, smart factory platforms and technologies for filament, staple fibers and nonwovens at Booth D45 in Hall 6.1 at the NECC in Shanghai. In doing so, the company is laying the foundation for what it calls “A New Era” of textile production. At the center of this transformation stands one development in particular: Barmag POY 2.0.
Every few years, an innovation emerges that fundamentally changes how an industry thinks about production. Barmag believes POY 2.0 represents exactly such a moment. The new spinning concept is the result of a complete reevaluation of the entire POY process chain, from spinning and quenching to winding, along with digital process control. Rather than improving isolated components, engineers reimagined the interaction between all process steps.
Cone Denim Announces Strategic Transformation to Better Serve the Global Denim Market
Cone Denim, a leading global denim innovator, announced strategic transformation plans designed to better serve the global denim fabric market. The plans include strengthening Cone Denim’s focus on its established manufacturing platform in Mexico and the planned exit of denim manufacturing operations in China by year-end 2026. This repositioning follows a comprehensive review of the global denim market, Cone’s manufacturing footprint, customer sourcing needs, and long-term business strategy.
The decision follows careful consideration of economic, market, and geopolitical factors that have increasingly affected the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of operating denim manufacturing in China. Changing global trade dynamics, evolving customer sourcing strategies, cost pressures, supply chain considerations, and broader geopolitical developments all contributed to this determination.
ZymoChem Secures $4 Million in Renewed Federal Funding
Specialty chemicals company ZymoChem – dedicated to bringing decarbonization, sustainability, and supply chain resiliency to the chemical industry – announced the resumption and expansion of its federal research portfolio. The company has been notified that previously paused work under a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program is officially back on, to be joined by continuing collaborations with three of the nation’s premier national laboratories.
ZymoChem’s most recent government award represents $4 million in federal funding and a $1 million program cost share directed at one of the most consequential industrial challenges of the decade: rebuilding domestic supply chains for high performance materials without the petroleum, the emissions, or the geopolitical exposure of the incumbent process.
“This funding is a vote of confidence in American biomanufacturing at a moment when it matters,” said Harshal Chokhawala, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of ZymoChem. “Decarbonizing the chemical industry is not a science problem alone. It’s a supply chain problem, an industrial policy problem, and a national security problem. We are grateful to our partners in the U.S. Government and the national labs for backing America’s future.”
J. Zimmer Companies Announce Strategic Integration
J. Zimmer Maschinenbau GmbH Klagenfurt and J. Zimmer Maschinenbau GmbH Kufstein | Digital Printing Systems in Austria announced the launch of “Zimmer 2028”, a strategic transformation initiative that will unite the two operating companies into a single organization effective 1 January 2028.
The companies describe “Zimmer 2028″ as a response to increasing economic pressure and as a strategic organizational transformation that combines the strengths of both businesses. They say market demands continue to evolve, and that the restructuring is intended not only to respond to those changes but also to create the basis for shaping the company’s future.
The objective is to align the organization with the requirements of the years ahead, consolidate expertise, and create additional capacity for customer service, innovation and growth. The company’s Klagenfurt division is focused on screen printing and coating systems, while the Kufstein division is focused on digital printing systems.
Indorama Ventures and REBHAN Launch Glass-like PET Packaging
Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, and REBHAN FPS Kunststoff-Verpackungen GmbH, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of cosmetic packaging, have collaborated to bring a new generation of PET packaging to the beauty and personal care market, combining luxury aesthetics with enhanced recyclability and more sustainable options.
Bringing together Indorama Ventures’ expertise in specialty PET materials and REBHAN’s packaging design and manufacturing capabilities, the collaboration has introduced LUXYCLEAR EBM PET 5508 to premium cosmetic packaging. Designed for extrusion blow molding, the specialty PET grade enables thick-wall cosmetic bottles with exceptional clarity and transparency, delivering the elegant, glass-like appearance while offering PET’s lightweight, durable and shatter-resistant benefits. The solution is ideal for premium beauty and personal care products where both aesthetics and performance are essential.
In addition to the conventional virgin PET grade, LUXYCLEAR EBM PET 5508 is also available in versions with up to 100% chemically recycled content or mass balanced certified renewable feedstock. These options allow brands to reduce reliance on virgin fossil resources while maintaining the same premium clarity, performance, and product quality. The product is now commercially available to beauty and personal care brands across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Schotex Global® Welcomes Mats Jengard as Nordic Sales Director
Sustainable and high-performance textile and textile technology developer Schotex Global® Co. Ltd. announced it has named outdoor industry sales veteran Mats Jengard as its head of sales for the Nordic region.
Jengard brings more than 25 years of successful sales and project management experience to his position at Schotex. Based in Sweden, Jengard has served as sales manager for established outdoor performance brands, including Norrona, PrimaLoft and W.L. Gore & Associates.
Designed in Switzerland, developed from European raw materials, and manufactured on European machinery, the Schotex Global collection pairs Swiss design heritage with the efficiency of Asian manufacturing. Schotex Global textiles range from its ACTIVE double weave constructions and FLEX single-layer textiles with exceptional 4-way stretch comfort to its TERRA natural fiber and technical synthetic blends and its SHIELD ultimate weather protection 2- or 3-layer laminates.
“We see great potential for Schotex in Northern Europe with the addition of Mats to our team, and are excited for him to introduce our product offerings to the outdoor performance brands in his Nordic region,” said Schotex Co-Founder and CEO Gwen Hsu. “His deep experience with global brands, collaborative work style, and focus on guiding long-term partnership programs with exceptional customer service align perfectly with our company goals and working principles. He is also a passionate outdoorsman who understands exactly what our consumers need and look for in their garments.”
Outside of work, Jengard enjoys alpine skiing, downhill biking, hiking, as well as golf. He resides in Trollhättan, Sweden, with his wife of 30 years, their kids and dog.
INDA, AFS Announce Program for 2026 Advances in Filtration Technical Conference
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and the American Filtration and Separations Society (AFS) announced that the program for the 2026 Advances in Filtration Technical Conference is now available. The conference will take place during FiltXPO™ 2026, October 28–29, 2026, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bringing together filtration experts, technology developers, researchers, and industry leaders, the Advances in Filtration Technical Conference will examine the technologies, market forces, and emerging applications shaping the future of filtration. Participants will gain insights on issues ranging from advanced filter media and PFAS to artificial intelligence, data centers, sustainability, and evolving market demands.
The conference sessions include:
- Filtering the Forecast: Markets, Tariffs & What’s Ahead – Explore the market, trade, and economic forces affecting filtration, including nonwoven filter media supply and demand, tariffs, supply-chain challenges, strategic sourcing, and opportunities for future growth.
- Air Apparent: The Next Generation of Filter Media – Discover advances in synthetic and nanofiber filtration media designed to improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption, enhance sustainability, and expand filter functionality, including innovative approaches to allergen control.
- PFAS: Filter It Out, Design It Out – Examine technologies for removing PFAS from water, advances in contaminant reduction, and new approaches to developing high-performance, PFAS-free filtration media without sacrificing critical performance characteristics.
- Feeding the Machine: Filtration, Cooling & AI Data Centers – Learn how filtration, water treatment, cooling technologies, predictive modeling, and AI-enabled strategies are helping data centers manage growing energy, thermal, water, and environmental demands.
- Smart Air: Better Filters, Better Outcomes – Explore how advances in air filtration may translate into better performance and healthier indoor environments, from research examining the potential cognitive benefits of HEPA filtration to next-generation nanofiber media for HVAC applications.
- Changing Gears: Next-Generation Filtration for a Changing Market – See how filtration technologies are evolving to meet new sustainability and performance demands, including lower-carbon fuel filter media and advanced molecular filtration solutions for cabin air and emerging fuel-cell applications.
The program will feature presentations from industry leaders and institutions including AAF International, Ahlstrom, Cartwright Consulting Co., LLC, Devan Chemicals, Fusion Filtration Corporation, Gessner – a Mativ Brand, HIFYBER, Math2Market GmbH, Matregenix, NFT Purification Technology Inc., The Nonwovens Institute at NC State University, the University of Connecticut’s Public Health Sciences Department, and WCC (Water Control Corporation), along with experts from INDA and AFS.
For more information about the conference and to register, visit www.filtxpo.com.
Indorama Ventures Presents Innovative Odor Capturing Technology
Indorama Ventures, a global leader in fibers and nonwovens serving customers in hygiene and technical markets, will present its latest technological innovation in odor management at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress later this month.
The innovation has been developed to address one of the most important yet challenging performance requirements in absorbent hygiene and technical products: effective odor control. By incorporating odor-capturing functionality for a broad spectrum of odor-causing compounds directly into the fiber structure, the technology helps manufacturers create products that actively capture odor-causing molecules rather than simply masking them. This enables a more effective and long-lasting approach to odor management while maintaining the comfort and performance consumers expect, for instance from adult incontinence and feminine care products, as well as from technical products such as air conditioning systems.
The technology further strengthens Indorama Ventures’ position as a partner for innovation in the hygiene and technical sector. Through its global manufacturing footprint and dedicated research and development capabilities, the company continues to develop solutions that help customers address evolving market needs across adult incontinence, feminine care, baby care as well as technical applications. The respective bi-component fiber portfolio will be marketed under the product brand platform “expera”, which includes solutions that deliver superior sensory, visual, or haptic appeal.
Textiles Manufacturing Expo launches in Charlotte, alongside Textiles Recycling Expo USA
AMI announced the launch of the Textiles Manufacturing Expo, a new industry exhibition and conference taking place on April 7-8, 2027 at the Charlotte Convention Center, North Carolina, alongside the established Textiles Recycling Expo.
Following the success of the Textiles Recycling Expo in Brussels, Belgium, and the inaugural Textiles Recycling Expo USA in Charlotte, AMI is expanding its presence in the textile industry with a dedicated event focused on the technologies, machinery, materials and expertise driving modern textile, fiber and yarn production.
Textiles Recycling Expo USA welcomed 1,858 visitors, 95 exhibitors and 52 expert speakers across two days in April 2026. The addition of the Textiles Manufacturing Expo in 2027 will create a unique co-located platform bringing the textile industry together across the full lifecycle.
The co-location also creates new opportunities for exhibitors to connect with professionals from across the wider textile value chain, bringing together manufacturers, technology providers, material suppliers, brands, designers, recyclers and other industry specialists.
“This new expo will provide a much-needed forum for the suppliers of raw materials and production technologies to connect with textile manufacturers to discuss the innovations and applications that will move the industry forward,” said Chrissy Winegarden, exhibition sales manager at AMI. “Those manufacturers already attend Textiles Recycling Expo USA in large numbers, so we have a ready-made audience looking for new solutions”.
The Textiles Manufacturing Expo will host its own range of exhibitors including:
- Suppliers of machinery and equipment for textile manufacturing, finishing and printing
- Fiber and yarn suppliers
- Providers of dyes, chemicals and finishing solutions
- Testing, inspection and quality assurance organizations
- Automation, AI and smart manufacturing specialists
- Software and digital solutions providers
- Consultancies and R&D organizations
The event will also have its own conference theater, hosting keynote presentations, technical sessions, and real-world case studies.
Charlotte, North Carolina, provides a natural home for the launch of Textiles Manufacturing Expo. With its strong textile heritage and established manufacturing ecosystem, the region continues to be home to textile innovators, research institutions, technology providers and forward-thinking manufacturers.
AMI is a leading organizer of international events for the recycling and manufacturing markets. These include the Textiles Recycling Expos taking place in Europe and the USA, as well as the AMI Plastics World Expos in Cleveland, Ohio. AMI also offers a range of conferences focused on various aspects of mechanical and chemical recycling both in Europe and the USA.
www.textilesmanufacturingexpo.com
INDA Announces Hygienix™ 2026 Conference Program
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced that the conference program is now available for Hygienix™ 2026, the premier global event for the absorbent hygiene and personal care markets. Hygienix will take place Nov. 16–19 at the Hyatt Regency Houston in Houston, Texas. The full conference program is available at hygienix.org.
Hygienix 2026 will bring together industry leaders, technical experts, researchers, and innovators to explore the absorbent hygiene industry, including sustainability advancements, regulatory developments, evolving consumer needs, and next-generation product technologies.
Conference Program
The conference program will feature the future of absorbent hygiene products, materials, manufacturing, and consumer care. Key topics include:
- Global energy, economic, and market trends influencing raw material costs, supply chains, product affordability, and business strategy
- Emerging consumer expectations, adult incontinence solutions, product insecurity, and opportunities to improve comfort, dignity, and access
- Advances in absorbent cores, superabsorbent materials, polymers, nonwovens, adhesives, fluid management, skin health, and next-generation product design
- Sustainability, biodegradability, manufacturing efficiency, and end-of-life considerations driving material and product innovation
- Evolving regulatory, legislative, reimbursement, and industry standards affecting absorbent hygiene manufacturers and suppliers
Hygienix will offer three interactive pre-conference workshops:
- “Inside the Absorbent Core: A Hands-On Systems Approach to Fluid Control” – Jim Robinson, Principal, Absorbent Hygiene Insights, LLC
- “Inside Sustainable Hygiene: A Hands-On Reality Check for Materials, Claims, End-of-Life, and U.S. Compliance” – Heidi Beatty, Chief Executive Officer, Crown Abbey, LLC
- “Inside the Diaper Market: Hands-On Benchmarking, Performance, and Trends” – Natalia Richer, Director of Business Development, and Irene Richer, Director of Laboratory Operations, Diaper Testing International
Carl Cucuzza and Pricie Hanna, the 2025 and 2026 Lifetime Service Award recipients, respectively, will be recognized during a presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 17
The Hygienix Innovation Award™ will recognize an innovative technology that is advancing the absorbent hygiene and personal care industry. Finalists will present their technologies on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and the winner will be announced during the closing session on Thursday, Nov. 19. Nominations for the 2026 Hygienix Innovation Award close Sept. 14.
The 2025 award recipient, Confitex Technology Ltd., was recognized for its Washable Nonwoven Sanitary Pad, designed to provide a sustainable and scalable solution without the use of superabsorbent polymers.
